A breeze stirred through the woods...
"Rustle, rustle..." The leaves and bamboo swayed. Shizuka Hiratsuka and Sogo Doma simply stared at each other, neither seeming willing to back down.
"We've already come all this way..."
"I've already endured the boredom of helping look after those little brats. Don't push your luck..." Sogo Doma's attitude remained firm from beginning to end.
"If you're bored, then do more work!"
"No! Even if I'm bored, I don't want to move, much less..."
"I'm not asking you to move!"
"Hm? I don't need to move?"
"Phew..." Seeing Sogo Doma relent somewhat, Shizuka Hiratsuka finally let out a long breath. "You and Hikigaya..."
"Hikigaya?"
"Don't tell me you don't know—the boy who was just with you..."
"Dead Fish Eyes?"
"..." Shizuka Hiratsuka's eye twitched. "That description isn't wrong, I suppose. But how did you end up hanging around with Hikigaya?"
"It just happened naturally. What, is there something wrong with him?"
"No..." Shizuka Hiratsuka looked up at the bamboo leaves. "I just wanted to ask what you thought of him."
"What a stupid question. Obviously, I look at him with my eyes..."
"..." Shizuka Hiratsuka's eye twitched again. "Quit playing dumb..."
"Hm?"
"Forget it, I'll be direct. Actually, I noticed Hachiman Hikigaya a long time ago..."
"???" Upon hearing that, Sogo Doma "gasped" in shock. "What do you mean? Are you trying to rob the cradle?"
"I'll beat you to death first, believe me! Are you and Taihei really blood brothers?"
"..." Fine. Before she snatched Taihei away and brought him home, Sogo Doma ultimately had to give ground. Otherwise, his resolute stance earlier would not have softened. "It was just a joke..."
"..." Having barely gained the upper hand, Shizuka Hiratsuka knew enough to stop while she was ahead. "I really don't know what